Dog Bathing & Shampoos

It’s bathtime! Yip, yip!

Dogs dig dirt – they droolly do. And even more so, after you’ve given them a bath, right? So, unless your extra-cuddly excavator has a skin condition or regularly indulges in the finer pleasures of rubbish bins, we recommend giving him a good doggy dunk in the bath, every month.

While we’re talking bathtime tips, it’s best to:

Use a shampoo designed for just for dogs. Yours is just a bit too rough on Rover’s skin, and can cause irritation. As in: See. Spot. Scratch. Oh, no!

Test the water temperature to make sure it’s comfortable – not too hot – by dipping your elbow in. He’ll woof you for it.

Be careful not to get water or shampoo in your dog’s eyes, mouth or ears – no fun for human or hound. Putting cotton wool in his ears can at least prevent water from leaking into the ear canal. And make him look so cute, you’ll want to squeeze him. Win-win!

Who wants a dry? Who wants a dry? Yes, you doooo.

Bathtime’s over. Your dog’s looking irresistibly soggy, and you’re left soaked after he shook a whole lot more than his booty. While it’s all fun and games with you two, fur-matting and skin diseases are just waiting to join in. But have no fear – a good towel- or blow-dry will keep your pooch in the clear.

Other drying tips:

While towel-drying your buddy’s leg’s and beard, it’s best not to rub. This can cause tangling. Squeeze out the excess waterÂ instead, and it’s smooth styling from there.

Remember to dry the bottom of his paws, as cute as those wet footprints look. Sometimes.

If you’re using a blowdryer, brush the beard and eyebrows downward. However, when it comes to legs, brush upward, starting with the pin brush and finishing with the slicker brush, once the legs are almost dry. Hint: Using a slicker brush on wet legs can rip fur right out. So, it’s wiser to save Smokey a whole lot of embarrassment, and wait.

Good boy! Now for some TLC.

You did it. Spot is spotless, loving the pampering, and you’re likely a bit cleaner too after the whole ‘spa date’ together. Now is a great time to check your dog’s body for anything out-of-the-ordinary and look for any signs of discomfort. For instance, if your dog’s shaking his head a lot, he’s actually not sick of that old card trick. He may just be a little, well, sick. Examining him on a weekly basis can catch these things, prevent infection and other problems.

Some common doggy downers:

EarsDogs with droopy ears, particularly the insanely adorable ones, are prone to fungus, waxy ears and ear mites. So, when you’re inspecting his ears, don’t use scissors or push your fingers into the ear canal. This can cause permanent damage, and we definitely wouldn’t want that. Hear, hear!

EyesRedness, tearing or discharge can be signs that your dog’s eyes aren’t right, and may require a trip to the vet. So, as you’re checking his eyes, wipe away any dried matter from the corners using a moistened cotton ball.

You can also remove discolouration caused by eye-staining, particularly if your pooch is white or light in colour. Simply add a small amount of hydrogen peroxide to warm water. Using a soft cloth, and being very careful not to get too close to the eye itself, apply the dampened cloth to the stained area, moving in the direction of his hair growth. By doing this on a regular basis, you’ll see less staining and your dog will be lookin’ good.

If your dog is actually dark in colour – you know, the real mysterious type – he won’t show any tearing. Lucky dog. A soft cloth dampened with plain water is all you’ll need to remove any dirt or debris that may have collected.